( 3minutes read)
· Recently the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the African Development Bank have released a baseline study that looked into the development of a continental energy grid and market
· Supported by the European Union, experts opine that the study is the first step for the ambitious project to create an efficient, competitive energy sector to serve Africa’s vast non-connected population
Will the continental energy grid for Africa become a reality? It is too premature to say that conclusively. But ground work for establishing a grid is progressing well. Recently the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the African Development Bank have released a baseline study that looked into the development of a continental energy grid and market.
Supported by the European Union, experts opine that the study is the first step for the ambitious project to create an efficient, competitive energy sector to serve Africa’s vast non-connected population. The African Development Bank recently held a roundtable meeting to discuss the recommendations of the report b among the stakeholders. .
African Energy Ministers had earlier batted for a continental transmission master plan during the AU Specialized Technical Committee meeting on Infrastructure held in Nouakchott and Cairo in 2018 and 2019, respectively since it can facilitate energy trade within Africa and beyond to European Union and Asia. The European Union (EU) will support Phase 1 under its EU Technical Assistance Facility (EU TAF) for sustainable energy.
The study, among other things, recommends establishment of a permanent unit to develop the master plan in order to produce a skills transfer within AUDA-NEPAD and the five regional power pools, and aligning the plan with existing infrastructure projects. The next step will be to conceptualize the broad contours of the phase 2 and funding of the master plan.
Over 640 million Africans have no access to energy; the lowest in the world. Per capita consumption of energy in sub-Saharan Africa (excluding South Africa) is 180 kWh, as against 13,000 kWh per capita in the United States and 6,500 kWh in Europe.
